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Reluctant Hero · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:06 pm Post subject: ID Cards Delayed

I'm with Clegg on this one. There is no need for ID cards. They can spout all that crap about helping to fight terrorism etc, but that doesn't wash with anyone.

I would fully support a campaign against this massive waste of taxpayers money.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7203740.stm

Britons' ID cards 'to be delayed'

Identity cards are opposed by the Tories and Lib Dems
Plans for a wider rollout of identity cards to British nationals appear to have been delayed for two years.
Foreign nationals will have ID cards this year and it was intended to introduce them in "significant volumes" for UK citizens from 2010.

But documents leaked to the Tories suggest it has been put back to 2012.

The Tories say the ID card scheme is "in the intensive care ward" but the government said the plan had always been to introduce them "incrementally".

When he was prime minister, Tony Blair promised to legislate to make it compulsory for all Britons to have - but not to carry - an ID card.

Biometric cards

But the £5.6bn scheme has met fierce criticism from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on cost, effectiveness and civil liberties grounds.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said he would take part in a campaign of civil disobedience if legislation is passed.

Home Office documents leaked to the Conservatives set out an illustrated timeline for introducing biometric ID cards.

I think the reality is just beginning to bite ministers on this

Damian Green
Shadow immigration minister

It includes the "Borders Phase I" introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals, which will begin later this year.

Then it indicates that people in positions of trust - like security guards - will be issued with cards in 2009.

But the "Borders Phase II" wider rollout to all UK citizens will not begin until 2012, the document says.

'Reality intruding'

BBC political correspondent James Landale said the implication was the controversial issue had been "kicked well into the long grass", beyond the next general election.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green told the BBC: "It's clear that there are enormous practical difficulties in putting 50 different pieces of personal information including addresses of 60 million British citizens plus lots of foreigners into a single database.

We have always said that the scheme will be rolled out incrementally

Identity and Passport Service spokesman

"I think the reality is just beginning to bite ministers on this, so this delay is the first sign of reality intruding, let's hope there are more to come."

But an Identity and Passport Service spokesman replied: "We do not comment on leaked documents."

He added: "We have always said that the scheme will be rolled out incrementally.

"As stated in the Strategic Plan for the National Identity Scheme published in December 2006, we will begin issuing ID cards for foreign nationals this year, and the first ID cards for British citizens in 2009."

He said they would make it easier for businesses and government to check identities "securely, conveniently and efficiently".

But he said the date for introducing cards with fingerprints "in line with international developments in passport security" was "under consideration" and further announcements would be made in due course.

There have been reports that Gordon Brown had cooled on the idea of compulsory ID cards for UK citizens, saying it was only an "option" that would be the subject of a Parliamentary vote.

Last week immigration minister Liam Byrne said the government remained enthusiastic about ID cards.

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Holebender · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:53 pm Post subject:

The campaign is called NO2ID and has been running for quite some time now.

http://www.no2id.net/
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Jimbo · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 628

Holebender · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:08 am Post subject:

20 Billion! You couldn't even prop up a failing bank for that.
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"My instinct is to agree with your opinion of his verse, but I've never so much as glanced at it." - agentmancuso

Aventinian · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:22 am Post subject:

Good.

I also think it raises an interesting question. Most often, when a great deal of money has been invested in a government idea which the opposition has opposed, it is kept by the previous opposition when they go into government.

I think the downfall of ID cards was when it looked increasingly like the Tories would get rid of them regardless. I wonder how far a political party ought to make allowances for this stability of ideas while maintaining their integrity.
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RadgeJougal · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

mairead · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:48 am Post subject:

I'm not against ID cards as such, but I am against the idea of all the personal stuff they want to include in them. A name, photo and address and maybe a contact in case of accident, is all that I would think was required.
At the rate private information is getting lost these days, the less info the government has, the better. They already have too much on us as it is. George Orwell was not off the mark when he wrote about 'Big Brother'

Fifty years on they will be branding us at birth.
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Holebender · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:35 am Post subject:

No need for a brand when they can implant an RFID chip like dogs get now.
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"My instinct is to agree with your opinion of his verse, but I've never so much as glanced at it." - agentmancuso